Stalk-cutter.



J. A. MGKAY. r STALK GUTTER. v APPLICATION FILED AUG.12, 1908. 4931,635,l Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. A. MUKAY.

STALK GUTTER.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 12, 1908.

93 1,635 I Patented Aug. 1'?, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ANsREw. s. GRAHAM co. Floro-umocmvnzns, wAsHmumN, n c.

flif'FFQE.

JOHN A. MCKAY, OF DUNN, NORTH CAROLINA.

STALK-CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17', 1909.

' Application filed August 12,1908. Serial No. 448,217.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. MCKAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dunn, in the county of Harriett and State of North Carolina,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stalk-Cutters, ofwhich the following is a specihcation.

My invention relates to stalk cut-ters adapted'for cutting cotton,tobacco and corn stalks, and which may also be used for cutting weeds.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a stalk cutter which isadapted to cut stalks closer to the ground and much shorter than othercutters with which 1 am acquainted and is not liable to choke during thecutting operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide astalk critter whichshall be extremely simple and inexpensive in its construction, compact,strong and durable and which is easy on the operator and team.

A further object is to provide a stalk cutter adapted to serve as aharrow.

A further object is to provide a stalk cutter wherein the drag hooks maybe readily operated by the foot of the operator for raising the stalksfrom the ground when they may have been blown down whereby they may bereadily cut by the cutting blades.

A further object is to provide a stalk cutter wherein the cylinder whichcarries the cutting blades may be readily raised or lowered at will bythe operator to regulate the pressure on the stalks.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement andcombination of parts as hereinafter fully described, shown in theaccompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved stalkcutter, Fig. 2 is a plan view with the apron or fender removed, Fig. 3is a vertical sectional view, Figs. 4 to 8 are detail views hereafterreferred to.

In carrying out my invention I provide ground wheels 1, preferablyconstructed of steel, and mounted to turn on an axle 3, which ispreferably constructed of a steel semi-annular groove 6 adapted toreceive an arm 7 of the axle, and 8 are cast metal pieces provided eachwith a semi-annular groove '9 to receive an arm 7; the pieces 5 and 8coperate to form sockets for the arms 7 of the axle; the piece 5 isarranged upon the vinner side and the piece 8 on the outer side y ofeach arm to be secured to a metal frame 10 by means 7 and these piecesare adapted of U-shaped bolts 11, the ends of which pass through alinedopenings 12 and 13 provided in the pieces 5 and 8 respectively, and alsoJthrough openings in the frame, the ends of the bolts being providedwith tightening nuts 16. Each piece 5 is provided with a recess 17 inwhich snugly lits the frame. It will be understood that there isprovided a *imilar arrangement on the opposite side of the machine. Thepieces 8 are each provided with a socket 8 which sockets are for thereception of the hubs on the wheels and are provided also with anoverhanging lip 82 which overlies the hub, the whole forming a dirtproof arrangement.

The frame 10 is preferably constructed of liet steel and bent into aU-shape and is provided with brace bar 18, the ends of which are bentdownwardly and are bolted to the frame 10 as at 19 upon the inner sidesof said frame. rlhe rear end of the draft tongue 19 is bolted as at 2Oto the said bar 18.

To the frame 10 is pivotally connected a metal frame 20 which carriesthe cutting cylinder presently described, and this frame 20 is bent intoa U-shape and to the forward ends of the arms 22 of said frame 20 arebolted metal sockets 23 through which pass the ends of a rod 24 whichalso pass through the arms 10 of the frame 10 and are threaded upon theoutside to receive nuts 26. A tubular piece 27 braces the ends of thearms of frame 20 and the rod 24 which pivotally connects the frames 10and 20 passes through said tubular piece.

30 indicates the cylinder for supporting the cutting blades. Thiscylinder comprises two cast metal flanges 31 provided with a pluralityof spokes 32, which are slightly pitched forward and the outer end ofeach spoke is provided with a shoulder 33 against which rest the cuttinglades 34. These blades 34 are beveled at their outer edges t0 provide asharp cutting edge and each blade is bolted to its pair of supportingspokes by bolts 36. This construction and arrangement of the cylinderand cutting blades is extremely simple7 light and durable and the bladesare firmly supported in posi-tion during the cutting operation. Thecylinder is adapted to be rotatably supported by the frame 20 and Iprovide boxes 38 which have arms 39 bolted as at 40 to the arms of theframe 20/ said arms 39 being provided with recesses 42 within whichsnugly lit the arms of the frame 20. The boxes 38 are provided withbea-ring apertures within which are rotatably mounted annular rods ortrunnions 43 cast with the flanges of the cylinder and constituting adirt proof arrangement. The boxes 38 are each provided with an oil hole44 for lubricating, and with a rib 42 to give strength to the boxes.

It will be understood that the cutting cylinder will be adapted to beadjusted simultaneously with the frame 20 to thereby raise or lower Athecutting blades whereby to regulate the pressure on the stalks. Then themachine is being carried on or olf the field the frame 20 and cylindercarried thereby may be raised sufliciently high to clear the ground orany obstructions, and in practice a vertical adjustment of live incheswill be found suliicient.

For the purpose of raising and lowering the frame 20 and the cuttingcylinder l provide -the following means. 45 indicate two rods, the lowerends of which are bent inwardly and pass through the arms of frame 20andare provided with cotter pins 4G to reta-in the rods in position. Theupper ends of ythe rods 45 are provided with eyes through which looselypass short studs or nubs 47 cast with arms 48 and 49 which are castintegral with sleeves 50 and 50 provided with square apertures 51 51arespectively through which pass the ends of a square rod 52. The bearingsleeves are secured to the ends of the rod by means of set screws 54.One of the bearing sleeves as 50 is provided with an integral arm 55 towhich is bolted the operating lever 57 by means of bolts 5G. The arm 55is provided with a rectangular recess 5G within which snugly fits theoperating lever and with holes 57 for the passage of the bolts It willbe seen that by shifting the lever in op-posite directions the frame 20and cutting cylinder carried thereby may be adjusted toward or from theground and the lever may be vheld in adjusted position by means of atoothed quadrant 58. The quadrant v58 is provided with an eye withinwhich fits the inner end of the sleeve 50, and 60 indicates a castingprovided with an eye 61 within which fits the inner end of the sleeve50. The casting (SO is provided with apertures 63, 64. Through theapertures 63 pass two machine bolts 66 which secure the casting to theaxle and through the apertures 64 pass the ends of a U-bolt 67 whichembraces the axle and secures the casting 60 to the latter. The underside of the casting is provided wit-h a semi-circular groove 68 toreceive wit-hin it the axle. The quadrant 58 is integral with a casting70 provided upon its under side with ,a semi-circular groove 71 toreceive the axle. Through the casting pass two machine bolts 75 securingthe casting .to the axle, while through apertures 74 in the casting passthe ends of a U-bolt 7 5 which clamps the casting to said axle. A springactuated dog 78 carried by the operating lever is adapted to be engagedwith the teeth of the quadrant and to hold the parts in .adjustedposition. n

8O and 80 indicate brace strips, the lower ends of which are bolted asat 81 to the frame 10 and said brace strips pass upwardly and aretwisted to rest under the axle fiatwise and said braces are engaged bythe machine bolts 66 `and 75 which secure the castings 60 and 70 to theaxle.

85 indicates a metallic bar, one end of which is bent as at 8G and isbolted as at 87 to the draft tongue. The bar 85 is curved upwardly andsupports a seat 87 for the operator in convenient position to operatethe adjusting lever for the cutting cylinderl and frame 20.

90 indicates a rake comprising two bars 91 and 99 constructed preferablyof steel and bent into the form seen more particularly in Fig. 7. Thelower ends of the rake bars constitute' teeth adapted when in normallowered position .to engage beneath the stalks and raise them from theground into position to lbe operated upon by the cutting blades. Therake bars pass through eyes 93 and 94 formed at the lower ends of ametallic strip 95 which is bent somewhat into U- shape and is pivotallyconnected to the draft tongue by a bolt 96 which passes through a holecut in the upper face of the tongueand covered by the lower bent end of.the seat bar. The upper U-shaped end of the strip is arranged in aconvenient position to be operated by the foot of the operator. Bypressing the strip forwardly, the rake teeth will be swung rearwardlyand upwardly from the ground, while upon releasing the strip the weightof the rake bars will cause the teeth to descend again into proximity tothe' groruid.

The rake bars ,at their upper ends pass loosely through apertures inAcastings 97 and 98 which are vbolted as at 99 to the frame l() and theextreme ends of the rake bars are provided with cotter pins 99 tomaintain said bars in position. It will Vbe seen that the rake bars canreadily turn in the castings 97 .and 98.

100 indicates a curved sheet metal apron or fender which is riveted orotherwise secured to two curved metal bars 101 which at their lower endsare bent forwardly and rest upon the bars 1S and are bolted thereto asat 102 and are secured at their upper ends to the axle by means of theU-bolts 67 and 7 5. To the bent ends of the bars 101 is bolted a metalfoot rest 106 by means of bolts 107.

That I claim is :k

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the)ivotally connected frames 10 and 20 and a cutting cylinder rotatablycarried by the frame 20', of means for raising and lowering the traine20 comprising rods 45, having bent ends passing through the arms offrame 20 and having eyes, sleeves 50, having integral arms 4S, 49carrying nubs which lit within said eyes, and said sleeves having squareapertures 51, 51a, a square rod 52 passing through said apertures,set-screws securing the sleeves to the rod, an arm 55 on sleeve 50, anoperating lever 57 bolted to arm 55, said arm 5.5 having a rectangularrecess 5G receiving the operating lever, a quadrant 58 having an eyewithin which fits the inner end of sleeve 50, and a casting 60 having aneye within which lits the inner end of sleeve' 50, said casting G0 alsohaving apertures GB, G4, machine bolts passing through the saidapertures, the ground wheel axle embraced by said bolts, and seated in agroove in the casting, a castlng a groove 71 to receive the axle,machine bolts passing through the casting 70, and

securing the casting to t-he axle, and a U- bolt passing through thecasting 70 and embracing the axle, and a spring actuated dog carried bythe operating lever and engaging the quadrant.

2. rlChe combination with the frame 10, of brace strips S0 80 bolted tothe frame and twisted as described, and the axle 3 mounted in said frameand having the shape described, and under the horizontal portion ofwhich axle the strips bear flatwise, and means for securing the stripsto the axle comprising castings 60 and 70 each having a semi-circulargroove within which lies the horizontal portion of the axle, and boltspassing through the castings and the flat portions ot the strips asdescribed.

3. The combination with the axle, of the bar 1S, the two curved met-albars 101 bolted at their lower ends to the bar 18, and U-bolts G7 and 75securing the upper ends of the bars 101 to the axle, and a metal footrest bolted to the bars 101.

In testimony whereof affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. MCKAY. lVitnesses H. P. HOWARD, Jr., W'. E. BoUL'rER.

